In his first appearance after his return, Al-Qassem posted a video clip from the Hall of Honor in the Guest Palace in Damascus, expressing his happiness at the fall of the regime and his return to the capital, Damascus, saying: “When expressions expand, words narrow. I am happy to be in the Hall of Honor after the one without honor fled.” In reference to ousted President Bashar al-Assad. Al-Qasim also appeared in another video clip while participating in the funeral session for Sheikh Sariya Al-Rifai, which sparked more interaction about his return and his future role in the Syrian scene.
The official media published a photo of the leader of the new administration, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, with Faisal Al-Qassem inside the Hospitality Palace, noting that Al-Qassem is considered one of the most famous media figures in the Arab world.
Al-Qasim was born in the village of Al-Tha’la in Suwayda Governorate, southern Syria, in 1961. He comes from a Druze family. He obtained a doctorate in English literature from Britain before embarking on a long media career through Al-Jazeera.
Al-Qasim emerged as an outspoken opponent of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, after the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011. He used his media platform to highlight the violations of the Syrian regime and present the views of the Syrian opposition, which made him the target of harsh criticism from the regime and its supporters. This did not prevent Al-Qassem from criticizing Bashar al-Assad and his security services directly, and described him in tweets and interviews as a “dictator” and a “symbol of tyranny.” Because of his opposition position, his name was placed on the Syrian regime’s wanted list.
The “The Opposite Direction” program, which began in the mid-nineties and is presented by Al-Qassim, is one of the most watched programs in the Arab world. The program is distinguished by its intense discussions and hosting personalities with opposing positions on sensitive political and social issues.
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